From Campus Trash To Tycoon

Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Lina lowered her phone and exhaled softly.

“He says he is on his way,” she said, slipping the phone back into her purse.

A few of her friends exchanged looks immediately.

“You sound relieved,” her cousin Erica teased. Erica was a beautiful Caucasian woman with deep locks and a mesmerizing smile—the kind of genetic lottery win that came from the European side of their shared grandfather’s lineage.

Lina smiled faintly. “I am. He is never late. Even when he's running his part-time business, he wouldn't disappoint me like this.” Lina felt something was off, but she couldn't piece it together.

That only fueled her friend's curiosity.

They were seated around a long table in the private lounge her parents had reserved. The room was warm with soft lighting and quiet music. Everything about the place spoke of money that did not need to announce itself.

Erica leaned forward flirty smile covering her sharp features. “So this Adrian. You talk about him like he is some kind of genius.”

Lina laughed lightly. “Because he is.”

She did not hesitate. “We have been friends since junior school. He has always been like that. Quiet. Focused. Hardworking and Always thinking three steps ahead.”

Erica frowned. “But you said he is a scholarship student.”

“He is,” Lina replied. “And he earned it. He could have accepted help so many times, but he never did.”

She paused, then added, “I tried to offer him a position in my father's firm more than once. He always refused.”

“That is rare,” one of the girls at the table tilted her head thoughtfully. “Most people would crawl through glass for your family recommendation.”

“He’s not most people,” Lina said. “And that's annoying.”

They laughed.

“He helped me with my projects,” Lina continued. “Tutored me when I was falling behind. Helped me prep for competitions. He never made me feel stupid for asking.” Lina was impatient at this point, Erica pulled her earpod out and looked at her whining, her expression remained unreadable before she crossed her leg.

“Wait. Is he single?” another girl straightened up, her eyes gleaming with interest.

Lina blinked. “Yes.”

The girl smiled. “Then link us up.”

Lina raised an eyebrow. “You are serious?”

“Why not?” the girl replied. “You said it yourself. He is smart, loyal, and you two are just friends. I need someone with a brain, not just a trust fund.”

Lina grinned. “I think you would like him.”

She did not miss the way another girl scoffed quietly and lean into Erica.

Lina grinned, looking at Erica. Erica was her closest confidante; they had grown up together, joined the cheerleader club together, and shared the same powerful grandfather. Lina knew Erica had incredibly high tastes, which is why she had been secretly considering Adrian, a responsible senior year student, as the only man genius enough to actually match Erica’s sharp wit.

So the girls that were squealing about linking up with Adrian were their colleagues. 

Before Lina could respond, movement at the entrance drew attention. “Don’t worry, Adrian is good looking.” she assured them and that kept their heart in a rush of adrenaline.

Abruptly the door was pushed open and a group of boys walked in, loud and confident, bringing with them a shift in energy Lina did not welcome.

Her smile tightened.

She recognized them immediately.

It was Lukas Leonardo. The bastard who had insulted and treated Adrian less than a servant at his house party. The ones who had paid him to serve drinks the same night everything had fallen apart for him.

They spotted Lina and approached.

“Happy birthday,” Lukas said smoothly, his eyes scanning the room. “I didn't know the Andrew family was doing something so... intimate.”

Lina sneered. “What do you want, Lukas? I don’t remember your name on the guest list.”

Lukas let out an arrogant sound. “Ever so hot-headed, Lina. I was making him to earn his spot. I never imagined something naughty was going on there that night.” Lukas said faking to be innocent when in reality he wasn't.

Lina rolled her eyes, she just knew Lukas was making it all up, she looked and realized it's her birthday and he was sensible enough to bring a gift along with him and his friends did the same thing.

The girls checked and realized that all of the young guys were a students, it was like having a dorm mixer party.

One of them glanced around. “So where is your scholarship pet. Or is he so embarrassed to stand before us?”

Lina’s expression hardened. “Watch how you speak.”

“Relax,” another boy chimed in, laughing. “We’re just curious. Why are you taking the side of an errand boy?”

“You never are,” Lina said coolly. “You just enjoy looking down on people.”

They exchanged looks.

“You are really taking his side,” another boy said. “Why.”

“Because he deserves respect,” Lina replied. “More than most of you.”

One of the girls at the table shifted uncomfortably.

“Is it the same Adrian you want to introduce me to?,” she said slowly, “Maybe linking him up is not a good idea.”

Lina turned. “Why.”

The girl shrugged. “He sounds complicated.”

“Complicated how?” Lina asked.

“Poor,” she said bluntly. “Let us be honest.”

Silence followed.

Lina’s jaw tightened. “That is not who he is.”

The girl crossed her arms. “Why would you set your friend up with someone like that, you were initially suggesting him to Erica.”

Erica now removed her ear pod and moved closer to them. “Is that the extent to which you have downgraded me? To a scholarship rat?”

Lucas couldn't believe his ears, what did he just hear? He erupted into laughter. “Erica, you have no idea. This loser feeds off the scraps I offer him! Yesterday, I had him serving drinks like the dog he is!”

Lucas recalled the event yesterday, he laughed until tears was rolling down his eyes.

Lina stood, her chair scraping the marble floor like a blade. “Enough! If that is how you think, get out. I won't have you mocking Adrian over a few bank notes.”

Lukas scoffed. “He’s a trash bag. A college errand boy who will sell his dignity for a bowl of noodles. Let it slide Lina.”

The girl scoffed. “So now you are offended. Over a college errand boy?”

“Yes,” Lina replied. “I am.”

The room quieted. “There is no need for the fuse, okay now let's forget about that trash bag.”

Lina became pale as she did not expect such event to leak here. She felt like skinning Lukas alive. Indeed he was useless and nothing good could ever come out of his mouth.

“Come on Lina, it's your birthday and we are all here to celebrate not mourn. Cheer up.”

Just then, a gentle knock sounded. The door opened, and Adrian stepped inside.

The room seemed to pause around him. It was said that when a man enters a room and the voices fall silent, it is because his name was already in the air. Adrian felt it then, the weight of attention that had nothing to do with admiration.

He was dressed simply in clean lines. Calm posture. Nothing loud. Nothing begging for attention.

He smiled when he saw Lina.

“Happy birthday,” he said.

Lina’s irritation melted instantly. “You made it.”

“I would not miss your birthday.” Adrian replied.

Adrian greeted the others politely, nodding even to Lukas, whose face twisted in irritation as he looked back at Adrian. Adrian ignored him and took a seat beside Lina. In the past, the weight of their judgment might have bothered him, but with his family’s true wealth now behind him, their insults felt like the buzzing of flies.

“Adrian, this is the friend I mentioned,” Lina said, gesturing to the girl from earlier who had asked to be linked up.

Adrian reached out his hand politely. “Nice to meet you.”

The girl glanced at his hand as if it were covered in dirt, then looked away. “Likewise,” she said, her tone icy and distant.

Adrian didn't react. He simply withdrew his hand.

The gift unboxing began. The table was soon buried under a mountain of gold and silver: Hermes bags, diamond-encrusted accessories, boxes of watches, and jewelry were stacked upon each other. Gasps followed. Each gift more expensive than the last. As they lined up.

Lina thanked everyone graciously but she was yet to open the gift as it was customary everyone should submit their gift and as the last event on the menu, they'd open it and applaud everyone.

Lina stood up to get a pineapple juice for Adrian when she noticed Lukas was looking at Adrian like a predator sizing him up.

“Well, well,” Lukas said, his voice cutting through the quiet chatter. 

He stood near the entrance, eyes fixed on Adrian.

The room stiffened.

Lukas smiled thinly. “Did not expect to see you here.” he spoke to him for the first time since yesterday.

Adrian looked up calmly. “It is Lina’s birthday. You don’t expect me to cower at your feet.”Lukas gaze flicked to the small bag beside Adrian’s chair.

He laughed softly. “Is that your gift.”

The room went silent.

Lukas eyes gleamed with something sharp. “I am curious.”

He stepped closer intentionally putting Adrian down before the girls. The girls leaned in, their eyes filled with a cruel, mocking curiosity.

“What kind of cheap, pathetic gift did you find in the trash for Lina?”